Washing-machine wringer mechanism



Sept. 13,1927.

. J. ROCKE WASHING MACHINE WRINGER MECHANISM Filed Dec.- l7, 1923 In yenzar.

'f' #Hof-nays Patented Sept. 13, 1927.

WASHIG-MACHINE WRINGER' MECHANISM.

Application ined December 17, 1923.V 'serial No. 681,055.

` JOHN ROCKE, OF BLOOMINGTON, ILLINOIS.

My invention relates to a washing machine wringer mechanism and moreparticularly'to a wringer of the safety type.

The object of my inventionis in the provision of a washing machinewringer having a simple and quickly releasable `safety mechanism mountedin connection therewith.

Another object of my invention is in the combination-of a conventionalspring mechanism for tensioning the rolls on a washing machine wringerand a demountable mecha-v nism in connection therewith adapted tombe fpositioned as desiredby the operator.

Still another 4object of my invention is in the provision of a wringerhaving a safety mechanismr in connection therewith that includes asingle quickly releasable bolt member. v

Another object of my invention .is in the provision ofa wringermechanism having a safety mechanism connected therewith in such manneras to bewpositioned for quick release either by a left orrig-ht handedoper ator.

Other objects ofv my invention will appear in the 'followingspecification taken in connection with-the annexed drawings, in whichFigure 1 is a front elevation of my wringer, portions of which Vareshown in section for a more detailed showing.

. Figure 2 is an enlarged detail partially in section of my specificsafety-'release mechanism. Y v Y i Figure 3 is aplan ofa portion of theWringer with thesafety release bolt removed.

Referring to thedrawings: vf

' I have shown 4inFigure 1a wringer mechanism of usual design lexceptfor the safety mechanism attached thereto. A

wringer is made up of Ythecastend plates 10 and 11, the end plate 11having the projecting portion 12 which provides one of the bearings vfora drain pan (not shown) adapted to be disposed tliereunde'r.`

The end plates .10 and 11 are fashioned to receive the `bearingblocksfor the roll membersftobe described and as-a matter of fact theseV endplatesform`-guide ways" for said bearing blocks. Means for Vconnectingthe end plates together and atthevsame time providing a guard` adjacent,the .wringer' rolls, are found in vthe transversely dSfPOsed lates 12and13. These plates make -upfthe ower 27 upon the flatspring 26.

part of the wringer, while the upper portion includes a cover 14 roundedat the top and fastened to each of the end plates by suitable screwmembers. In the guide ways fashioned in the en'd plates 10 and 11 areplaced the bearing blocks 15 and 16 for the lower rolland 17 and 18 forthe upper roll respectively. l Y

The lower wringer roll' 19 is of conven- Y tional design and ispowerdriven from the usual drive mechanism, not shown. Thel upper roll 20 isdriven from the lower roll thru the conventional gears 21 and 22. Aguard plate y23 perforated as at 24'surrounds the` gears and is boltedto the end plate 10 in such manner as to permit the projecting portion25, to co-operate with the projecting end portion 25a on the end plate11, to support vthe usual drain pan, not shown. Means for applyingtension to the upper wringer roll is provided in a transversely disposedfiat springv 26 and in connection with this spring I have provided myspecial release mechanismY for making up the safety device for thewringer.

Pinned intermediate the ends of the transverse spring 26 is a receivinglug 27 against which ther spring tensioning mechanism, now to bedescribed, bears'.

My spring tensioning and releasing mechanism consists in a demountablebolt which includes a tubular key member 28 having its interior threadedas at 28a and a screw member 29. The key includes a main hub portion 30having a handle 31 projecting therefrom in an exposed position. Upon theexterior surface of the key are formed pairs Vof 'wards ,respectivelyindicated as 32 and 33 projecting laterally and spaced some disn tanceapart, each pair being in the same plane and disposed on a line thru theaxis of the key. However, said pairs a-re disposed in differentlongitudinal planes for reasons hereinafter specified. The tension screwis entered thru the hub v30 and is adapted to project against thereceiving lug The tension screw has a manually operable tension wheel35, .which is adapted to rotate'same. Inserted in an4 opening `in theupper portion of the wringer'frame is a plate or key seat 36,,saidplatebeing positively fastened to the upper' portion 14.. of vthe frameby means lil of the screw members 37 and 38. The plate orkey seat 36 hasa central opening 39 therein,` as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings.rThis opening is relatively proportioned with respect to the key so thatthe latter is capable of entry thereinto and is provided with wards 39aspaced at 'regular intervals about aperture 39 to facilitate the entryof the ward members of the key. This being accomplished, by retractingthe screw member into a position so that the key may be entered thru theopening 39 in plate 36 a sutlicient distance before Contact with the lug27 or bar spring 26 that the key may be turned so that its upper setvofwards engage the intervening portions of said plate between the wards inthe plate, then by rotating screw 39, tension may be applied to spring26. The relative arrangement between ward members respectively of thekey and plate is such that the former may not be entered thru the plateexcept that it shall be turned into a certain definite position and inthe instance where shown in a position angular with respect to thelength of the wringer frame so that when the key is entered it may beturned into substantially a right angle position with the length of saidframe when the wards thereon will be opposed to the intervening portionsbetween the wards in the plate thereby when the screw is projectedlocking the key in connection with the plate and whereby Vthe handleportion 3l of the key will project in substantially parallel line withthe length of the frame. The lower wards are positioned in a differentlongitudinal plane Jfrom the upper 4wards so thatrwhen handle 31 isturned into a position whereby the upper wards are permitted to passthru the wards in the plate, the tension of the spring acts to violentlyproject the bolt, so that the lower wards will engage the interveningportions of the plate to prevent the bolt from being' wholly dislodged.

To release the above safety mechanism it is merely necessary to strikethe release handle sharply in either direction, or rather to move it tosuch an extent as to permit release of the bolt, which takes place whenthe wards 32 are moved in such manner that their upward movement thruthe plate 36 is permitted. ln other words, the striking of the releasehandle permits partial eXpuL sion of the bolt from the wringer, orrather upper casing thereof. However, the entire expulsion of the boltis prohibited, due to the fact that the lower set-,of wards upon theupward movement of the bolt abut the underside ofthe plate 36. With thewringer in its released position, to entirely withdraw the bolt from thewringer, it is only necessary to move the release handle to such aposition as to permit the further withdrawal of the lower set of wardsthru the plate 36.

I have provided a demountable bolt and tensioning mechanism which makesup the safety portion of my wringer for the purpose of providing amechanism that may b-e set at either side of the wringer as desired. Theabove described mechanism, due to its demountable feature, may beinserted as shown in Figure l, into the wringer in .such position thatthe release handle thereof may extend at either side of the wringer asdesired. This has been provided in case the operator, we will say, isleft-handed, or for any reason where it is desirable that the releasehandle be placed in an opposed position.

I have described the manner of positioning the bolt or rather safetymechanism relative to the transverse spring but it might be said herethat after release of the bolt and hence the tensioning screw 34 it isnecessary to withdraw said tensioning screw to some extent to permit theentire insertion of the bolt thru the plate 36. When the bolt has beenplaced in its normal position and moved to a position to vprevent itsupper movement thru the plate 36, the tensioning screw is again insertedinto the receiving lug 27 until the desired tensioning of the wringerrolls has beenobtained.

As said before, if it is desired that the release handle be placed in anopposite posi-- tion upon the wringer, it is merely necessary to releasethe tensioning screw, move the release handle to the desired positionand again apply tension to the spring.

There is an added advantage in having my bolt and tensioning screwdemountable, in that assembly is made much simpler. Again, there areadvantages` in shipment, packing, storage, etc.

What I claim is 4l. In a wringer, in combination a wringer frameincluding a top frame member, an adjustable roll supported in the frame,a removable spring tension member for imparting pressure to said roll,an elongated key seat supported in the topfframe` member provided withwards therein, av removable key for entry within said key seat andprovided with longitudinally spaced pairs of lugs, each pair arranged in`different transverse planes, and adapted to beV vrentered through thekey seat and locked by circumferential manipulation of the key andprovided with an axially disposed threaded bore, and also provided witha laterally projecting striking arm;l a pressure screw threadedin andextendingthrough the key adapted for' projection into contact with thespring tension memberA to apply pressure thereto. y

2. In av wringer, the combination offa frame, a roll adjustably mountedinl the frame, a leaf spring for imparting pressure to the roll, a keyseat fixed to sald, frame and provided with Wards, an elongated keyhaving a set of lugs cooperating with said Wards to permit the key to beinserted longitudinally into the key seat and looked and released byrotation of the key, a striking arm connected with the key, said keyhaving a second .set of lugs spaced longitudinally from said firstmentioned set and in staggered relation thereto, to limit the lonitudinalmovement of the key when it is re eased,

and means engaging said key and said spring for compressing said sprlng.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature.

JOHN ROCKE.

